On September 25, Living Boldly brought together advocates, leaders, and community members to celebrate progress and inspire further action for disability rights in a day-long session in Annapolis. Living Boldly is a self-advocacy group led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities dedicated to fostering confidence, independence, and dignity for people with disabilities through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is when people with intellectual and developmental disabilities represent themselves, their ideas, and their own best interests to advocate for changes in their lives and their communities. Self-advocacy is essential because it encourages people with disabilities to take an active part in the decisions that affect their futures. This is an essential part of The Arc’s work in the community, and The Arc’s self-advocacy group, Living Boldly, provides access to important information so people can form their own ideas and opinions about what they really want. Composed of people throughout the community, this public group is not limited to those receiving services from The Arc to ensure a diverse range of voices is represented.
Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves equity, access, and opportunity, Living Boldly creates a safe space for people to help each other grow and encourage more independence. Living Boldly supports people in amplifying their voices and shaping policies that directly impact their lives.
Celebrating Advocacy, Progress, and Empowerment
On Wednesday, Living Boldly hosted their first bi-annual meeting in Annapolis, MD. The Arc’s President & CEO, Jonathon Rondeau, opened the event with a message of gratitude and celebration, praising the collective achievements of the group, saying, “I am excited to celebrate the profound impact everyone in this room has had this year. Each of you has made so much progress and learned so much. You are better off, those around you are better off, and your communities are better off because you continue asking, ‘What else is possible?’”
Delegate Dana Jones followed with a video, commending the leadership of Living Boldly’s self-advocates and highlighting how their stories shape legislative change. The day also included a panel discussion from leaders in the community, a legislative overview, fireside chat, and interactive opportunity to experience a voting booth.
The panel discussion featured Dr. Stephanie Dolamore, Deputy Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, as well as Dominique Palmer, Advocacy Specialist at The Arc Maryland, and Greg Snyder, Vice President of Government Relations at the Maryland Association of Community Services. The panelists shared insights into recent legislative progress and stressed the importance of self-representation. Dominique Palmer spoke passionately about people with disabilities telling their own stories and providing testimony to legislators, while Greg Snyder encouraged participation in the upcoming 2025 legislative session, highlighted what to expect next year, and touched on new accessibility features for engaging with the Maryland General Assembly.
The importance of voting was another central theme throughout the event. Emily Arneson, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, emphasized how crucial it is for people with disabilities to have a strong presence in the electoral process and provided attendees with detailed guidance on how to register to vote, research candidates, and make sure that elections are accessible for all. Emily encouraged attendees to sign up for the Annapolis Insider Newsletter, which sends weekly highlights of the legislative issues important to people with disabilities. Her presentation underscored that voting is a vital tool for ensuring that disability rights remain a priority on the legislative agenda.
Carol Beatty, Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Disabilities, outlined the work of the Maryland Commission on Disabilities and explained the commission’s goals, sharing information about the various programs that are in place to support people with disabilities across the state. She emphasized the importance of these programs in fostering inclusivity and independence within the community.
The final session of the day was hosted by Mat Rice, Executive Director of People on the Go Maryland, who discussed the importance of empowering self-advocates. People on the Go Maryland is an organization committed to helping people with disabilities take charge of their rights and futures. Mat stressed that advocacy is not just about policy—it’s about people standing up for themselves and others, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
The event concluded with an awards luncheon honoring Nick Sabo and Bryan Rodriguez for their resilience and community contributions, demonstrating the transformative power of self-advocacy. Earlier this year, Nick began a volunteer position that wasn’t fully accessible to his needs. Instead of stepping back, he advocated for changes, and with his persistence, the company adjusted the position to meet his accessibility needs. Bryan is known for his friendly, social, and helpful nature and was celebrated for his positive impact on his community. His kindness and willingness to help those around him have inspired others, and he serves as a role model for what it means to be an advocate in everyday life.
Living Boldly Continues The Arc’s Legacy of Advocacy
Living Boldly is vital because it places people with disabilities at the forefront of advocating for their rights and shaping the policies that impact their lives. The Arc is deeply rooted in a tradition of advocacy, and Living Boldly continues that legacy by empowering people with disabilities to raise their own voices and ensure their needs and perspectives are heard directly by legislators, policymakers, and the wider community.
“Sometimes people without disabilities try to tell our stories for us, but we need to be the ones to tell our stories about how we experience things as a person with a disability. If we let others tell our stories for us, it takes away our power.” – Dominque Palmer, Advocacy Specialist for The Arc Maryland.
Living Boldly ensures that the people who are most affected by these issues are the ones leading the charge for change. This advocacy takes many forms, and Living Boldly’s work includes everything from improving the enforcement of laws to educating legislative leaders on what inclusion and equality really mean to our communities.
How to Join Living Boldly
Living Boldly is open to anyone in the community with a disability who shares the vision of creating a more inclusive and accessible world. You do not need to receive services from The Arc to join.
Living Boldly has two chapters, one based in Anne Arundel County and one based on the Mid-Shore. Both groups provide opportunities for people with disabilities to connect, learn about their rights, and take an active role in advocacy. Members can attend meetings, participate in workshops, or connect with current members to learn how to get involved in legislative advocacy, community organizing, and leadership development. By joining Living Boldly, advocates can make a lasting impact on their communities while also developing the skills needed to shape their own futures.
To learn more about how to join Living Boldly and find meeting times and locations, check out The Arc’s Living Boldly Page today.